Occupational Therapist (Hybrid)

Job Responsibility:

Responsible for providing specialized clinical assessment and rendering health care entitlement decisions for severely impaired workers (e.g. spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, severe burns, multiple amputations) to address safety issues, promote independent living, and improve quality of life. This includes rendering Personal Care Allowance (PCA) benefit decisions and determining entitlement to home and vehicle modifications, mobility equipment, assistive devices and technology, environmental controls, therapeutic interventions and quality of life devices.

Apply occupational therapy knowledge, skill and judgment when providing clinical advice, monitoring recovery in terms of functional abilities, and rendering and implementing decisions in order to achieve the best possible functional, quality of life and return to work outcomes throughout the case life cycle. Occupational Therapists perform their role in a way that reflects accountability to the worker having regard for the policies, standards, and guidelines of the WSIB as well as the standards and guidelines of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

1. Arrange for comprehensive independent living assessments to identify needs with respect to accessibility, home safety, mobility, driving, vehicle modifications, home modifications, and quality of life by:

• Completing a comprehensive file review and gathering information from worker and their families or treating health care professionals to identify worker's entitlement, medical history, and functional limitations with respect to his/her daily activities to determine the need for and type of assessment(s) indicated;
• Educating workers and their families on how the independent living assessment process can identify short and long-term needs, accommodations, adaptations, and services which will maximize recovery, mitigate the effects of the impairment, and promote optimal quality of life and independent living.

2. Determine entitlement to assistive devices and technology, health care equipment, mobility equipment, environmental controls, home and vehicle modifications, and address quality of life issues by:

• Completing a comprehensive analysis of medical reports and independent living assessment reports;
• Identifying barriers/obstacles to independence and providing appropriate and cost-effective solutions, which may include further referrals to suitable health care professionals or services;
• Assessing the need for additional modifications (e.g. home and vehicle modifications) or equipment that will subsequently be required based on the approved service, equipment or modification; Taking into consideration work-related impairment(s), legislation, policy, best practices and clinical judgement.

3. Determine entitlement to a Personal Care Allowance (PCA) by:

• Determining whether a PCA assessment is required to delineate worker's level of independence with personal care activities and type of assistance required. This is accomplished by reviewing claim file and gathering information from worker and treating health care practitioners;
• Rendering decisions on requests for PCA reassessments by determining if the request is supported through a material change (i.e. change in functional status due to work-related injury, change in living situation or change in caregiver circumstances)
• On the Catastrophic Team conduct PCA assessment at discharge conference when sufficient information is available to determine care needs based on medical and functional information in consultation with treating health care team, worker and worker's family
• Conducting PCA assessment/reassessment by phone when appropriate by interviewing the worker and/or his/her caregiver regarding functional abilities related to personal care and analyzing medical information on file to corroborate care needs. Arranging for comprehensive PCA assessment/re-assessment when appropriate to identify personal care needs and determine what devices/services/equipment would increase independence
• Completing detailed review of PCA assessment reports using knowledge of disability, function and disease/disability progression and its impact on functional abilities
• Calculating an accurate benefit rate in consideration of functional impairments, WSIB policies, best practices and clinical judgement
• Determining personal care needs over distinct time periods by reviewing and analyzing medical documentation and conducting interviews with workers and caregivers in order to determine retroactive needs and arrears dates for PCA benefit decisions.
• Educating workers and their families regarding caregiver burnout, risk of injury and benefit of respite when negotiating the division of care between non-professional attendants (e.g. family) and agency care.

4. Render health care entitlement decisions to claim participants (e.g. workers, employers, legal representatives, health care providers) verbally and in writing and attempt to resolve objections by:

• Providing education on WSIB benefits, policies, and processes as well as worker's obligations and responsibilities
• Explaining rationale for the decision and application of policies and section of the relevant WSIA
• Managing reconsideration requests by comprehensively reviewing and analyzing additional information to determine whether a decision will be upheld or amended

5. Identify, coordinate, and monitor services, modifications and equipment to ensure optimal safety, accessibility, increased independence and maximize return to work potential for the worker by:

• Collaborate with worker, family members, health care practitioners, and vendors and attending care conferences on a worker's discharge from hospital to ensure appropriate equipment/services are in place;
• Identifying and eliminating barriers to independent living, daily activities, and return to work in conjunction with case managers, nurse consultants, return to work specialists, treating health care practitioners, vendors and the worker through review of medical documentation on file and through conversation with worker and/or family;
• Using clinical expertise to provide recommendations to the service delivery team to increase return to work engagement of workers with serious injuries.

6. Determine entitlement to repairs and/or replacement of equipment related to vehicle modifications, mobility devices, assistive devices, quality of life, and health care equipment by:

• Completing a comprehensive file review to determine if there is a material change in the worker's work-related injury;
• Determining if it is more cost-effective and appropriate to repair or provide for replacement of equipment;
• Referring for an independent living assessment if it is determined that worker is eligible for further equipment and/or modifications.

7. Act as a clinical resource to internal staff by providing specialized advice, opinions, and guidance about health care related questions and the interpretation of medical/clinical findings related to function, equipment, modifications and recovery of a worker.

8. Ensure ongoing use of best practices in the decision making process by:

• Using current research findings and quality improvement strategies to identify creative approaches to challenging situations, which will enhance worker/program outcomes;
• Participating in ongoing professional development in order to meet standards set out by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

9. Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Job Requirements

Education:

• University completion of a bachelor's degree as recognized by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario for graduates prior to 2008 or completion of a Master's degree as recognized by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario for graduates after 2008.
• A member in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists or Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists required.

Experience:

• One year prior experience in occupational therapy.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We respect and value the diversity of our people. We strive to create an environment where employees can be themselves and where our differences are celebrated.

The WSIB is committed to being accessible and inclusive, and following barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when we contact you and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disclosing conflicts of interest

As public servants, employees at the WSIB have a responsibility to act in an ethical way at all times to create a respectful workplace and maintain public trust. Job applicants are required to disclose any circumstance that could result in a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is any situation where your private interests may impair or be perceived to impair the decisions you make in your official capacity. This may include: political activity, directorship, other outside employment and certain personal relationships (e.g. with current WSIB employees, customers and/or stakeholders). If you have any questions about conflict of interest obligations and/or how to make a disclosure, please contact the Talent Acquisition Centre at View email address on ca.edajobs.com.

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As a precondition of employment, the WSIB requires that prospective candidates undergo a criminal records name check any time before or after they are hired.

To apply for this position, please submit your application by the closing date.